Does IU's agreement with Microsoft mean that I don't have to buy an operating system with my new computer?
Under the IU/Microsoft Campus Agreement, neither individuals nor departments at Indiana University are permitted to purchase a computer without Windows and then install a copy of Windows obtained through the agreement. You cannot omit the operating system from any computer you purchase, nor receive credit from Microsoft or its distributors, as a result of the agreement. You must purchase a Windows license before you may legally upgrade to a version provided by IU. By buying a computer with a version of Windows pre-installed, you are purchasing a Windows license.
Since IU has the legal right to "upgrade" a pre-existing Windows license (but does not have the right to grant a license), you can upgrade any copy of an older operating system under the agreement. Because of the agreement, there is little reason to buy a computer that comes with software package bundles, since you can get free software from IUware Online or purchase CDs at greatly reduced cost on your campus. (For locations, see IU's software agreement with Microsoft, and consult the "Acquiring the software" section.) Both institutional and personal purchases are authorized in this manner, so when negotiating a purchase, you may wish to ask the vendor to omit the applications (but not the operating system), and lower the price accordingly.
Servers may be purchased without a Windows operating system, but departments must then purchase a license for Windows Server from Bell Tech.logix. Contact the UITS LAN Lab for more information; see At IU, whom can I call for departmental LAN support?
For the terms of the IU/Microsoft Campus Agreement, see:
http://iuware.iu.edu/license/Click the Microsoft link for information on the products
covered and their availability.
Users can also install Windows on Macintosh systems that use the Intel processor. See How do I run Windows or Windows programs on my Macintosh?
Also see:
Last modified on January 08, 2008.
